UNIVERSITY HONOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 208, 3 September 1934, Page 7

UNIVERSITY HONOUR

WING-COMMANDER PARK. AN OXFORD DEGREE LONDON, July 20. In Convocation at Oxford, on July 14, the degree of M.A. honoris causa was conferred upon Wing-Commander Keith Rodney Park, M.C., D.F.C., in recognition of two successful years as chief instructor of the Oxford University Air Squadron. Wing-Commander Park served in Gal lipoli, Egypt, and France, and was twice wounded. The public orator, Mr. Cyril Bailey, presenting him, said that, whereas his father had been a distinguished student of theology, the son’s genius had reached in the opposite direction, to a study of the air and the sky. The Vice-Chancellor (Dr. F. J. Lys, Provost of Worcester) presided. In admitting Wing-Commander Park to the degree, he addressed him as “vir militae spectate inter aurigas caelestcs sum ma fortitudine summa sollertia insig nis. ” This officer is the youngest son of Professor J. Park, of Otago University, and was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School. At one time he was in the Union Steam Ship Company’s service. Ho served throughout, the entire war, being with the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt and Gallipoli (1914-15), until transferred to L Battery, 29th Division, remaining on the Peninsula till the final evacuation. After that, when he was in France, he was awarded a regular commission in the Royal Artiliery, 29th Division. At the end of 1915 he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps as pilot; he was very soon promoted flightcommander, and three months later squadron-commander (major). In 1919 he was apopinted to a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force. In 1929 and 1930 he was chosen to organise the great R.A.F. pageant at Hendon, which he did with considerable success. His appointment as chief instructor, Ox-ford-University Air Squadron, took effect from the beginning of June, 1933.